Format of VObs report file

The VObs report format is almost the same as the AAVSO report format.

This is a text file with fix line length, its every line contains one observation, within lines all data of observations begin at fixed position. The structure of the observations (one line of the file) is the following:

Field name	Start position	Length	Format
Harvard-number	0	8	1234+56, 1234-56, 1234+56A, 1234-56A
Name of the variable star	8	10	For GCVS names, one space character must stand before the abbreviation of the constellation. For Non-GCVS names, there is no constellation at all.. As special cases, use temporary names for supernovae or novae with this format:'SN 2002AB' or 'N CYG 02'. When the name is not fit for 10 charaters, unambiguous abbreviation must be used. If it is not sure, see the proper format in the AAVSO validation file. The validation file can be accessed at http://www.aavso.org/validation.stm.
Julian Date	18	12	Julian Date for 4 decimals. It is not neccessary to write all the decimals here; the unused decimals must be filled with spaces. The decimal point must be a '.' character.
Negative observation	30	1	If you made negative ("fainter, than...") observation, at this position you must write a '<' character; a space otherwise.
Magnitude	31	5	Magnitude value with decimal point, with up to 2 decimals. The decimal point must be stand at the 33. position. Second decimal value can be obsolated - for visual observation this is a must. For uncertain observations a ':' charakter must be written at the position of the second decimal (35.).
Comment codes and filters	36	7	In this field you can write a list of comment codes, up to 4 characters. Available codes are listed in the table below. It is an optional field. For non-visual observations, the filter designation stands after the comment codes, separating from those by a space character (if there is no comment code at all, the first charater (37. position) of this field is a space). Contrary to AAVSO description, we prefer standard filter designations as: U, V, B, R, Rc, I, Ic, etc.
Comparision stars	43	11	A list of comparision stars. This field has no fixed format, but it is better to write comp stars magnitudes without decimal point and separate them from one another with commas. If more than on comp star has the same magnitude, differenciate them with the abbreviation of derection: 123SW - 123 comp star to the south-west from the variable. It is an optional field.
Chart	54	8	Designation of the chart used for the observation. In the case of AAVSO charts, it contains the type, the scale and the revision date of the chart: SB1964 - standard B chart, revised in 1964. It is an optional field.
Observer code	62	5	The name code of the observer. It is usually 3 character long, the last 2 character must be filled with spaces.
Comment	67	82	Comments/notes for the observations. In theory, if we write a comment code 'O' above, we have to write comment here. Generally it is optional field.

Available comment codes:

Code	Details
A	AAVSO Atlas
G	Non-AAVSO chart with Guide Star Catalog magnitudes
J	Non-AAVSO chart with Hipparchos magnitudes
K	Non-AAVSO chart or sequence used
T	Non-AAVSO chart with Tycho magnitudes
S	Comparision sequence comment or problem, extrapolation
B	Bright sky, twilight, light pollution, aurorae
H	Haze, mist, fog
U	Clouds
W	Weather, wind, poor seeing in general
M	Moon present or interferes
L	Low in sky, horizon, trees, obstruction
V	Faint star, glimpse, near limit of visibility
Z	Possibly erroneous, doubtful, observer fatigue
I	Identification of star is uncertain
N	Angle, position angle
R	Color comment
Y	Activity in star
O	Other comments